Facebook appeals Belgian cookie rule because it says ‘cookie’

Facebook has appealed a ruling from the Court of First Instance that supported the Belgian data authority’s demand that the social media network stop tracking users.

The court’s ruling contained some English words — like cookie, homepage and browser — which could violate a Belgian law that says all rulings must be in the official languages of the country: French, Dutch and German. Facebook has said this means the whole ruling must be annulled.

Privacy lawyers not associated with the case told POLITICO this is a “desperate, petty and last-ditch” attempt to avoid Belgian justice. Previously, Facebook tried to fight the verdict by claiming the Belgian data protection authority did not have jurisdiction because the company’s European headquarters is in Ireland.

But lawyer Dirk Lindemans, who represents Facebook in Belgium, told local publication De Tijd: “It is a requirement that justice for all is understood. Otherwise you get a slippery slope towards class justice.”

Last year the data protection authority advised people to use “do not track” services like Ghostery, Blur and Disconnect to protect themselves from Facebook’s tracking on third-party websites.